Device for washing and drying bearings and the like



Dee. 18, 1956 J. R. NORDLING DEVICE FOR WASHING AND DRYING BEARINGS AND THE LIKE.

Filed Nov. 8, 1952 /7 7' TERA 5 V5 DEVICE FOR WASHWG AND DRYING BEGS AND THE LIKE 7 James R. Nordling, Portland, Greg.

Application November 8, 1952, Serial No. 319,453

4 Claims. (Cl. 134-99) This invention relates to improvements in cleaning and drying devices, and more particularly to a device for cleaning and drying small machine parts such as automotive bearings and the like.

In general, the cleaning device comprises a tank having a partition to form a fluid pressure chamber or reservoir and a washingchamber. Mounted in the washing chamher is a base upon which is rotatably mounted a support for holding a hearing or other part to be Washed. A pipe extends through the partition between the reservoir and the washing chamber, and terminates as a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles are positioned tangentially relative to the rotatable support, and fluid under pressure delivered from the nozzles will cause the support and hearing or other part to be washed to rotate tosubject all surfaces of such part to the action of the fluid stream. An air supply pipe is mounted in the washing chamber and also has a nozzle positioned tangentially relative to the bearing or other part when the sameis placed on the rotatable support, sothat air under pressure delivered from the nozzle will rotate the bearing to dry every part thereof. Air is supplied to the nozzle and to the reservoir by an air compressor system through suitable pipe connections and valves, the fluid in the reservoir being forced through the nozzles by air pressure supplied to the reser- VOlI.

it is, accordingly, a principal object of this invention to provide a washing and drying device which is simple in construction, which has a minimum of moving parts, and which is eficient in operation to clean all portions of the article.

it is another object to provide a device having a rotatable support for a bearing and'the like to be washed and dried, as well as a plurality of nozzles tangentially arranged relative to said support to rotate said support and bearing during each of the washing and drying operations.

it is a further object toprovide a. washing and drying device utilizing compressed air supplied by a conventional air compressor system commonly used in service stations and garages.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred forms of the device. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take otherforms, and that all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and which will occur to persons skilled in the art are included-in the invention.

in the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a preferred form of the device, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig ure 2;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing in particular the nozzle arrangement relative to a bearing and bearing support, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rotatable support and its base member;

aired States Patent 7 2,774,362 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of work holding support; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modification employing means to hold a bearing and the like firmly in place on the rotatable support.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially Figures 1-3, the device comprises a tank having end walls 10 and 11 and side walls 12 and 13. A bottom wall 14 is provided with a sump 15 having a drain plug 16. The side walls 12 and 13 extend below the bottom wall 14 to provide a support frame 17 for the device. A cover 18 may be hinged tothe tank or freely removable therefrom and has a handle 19 and an aperture 29 through which air pressure in thetank may be relieved.

The tank has a horizontal dividing wall or partition 25 forming a lower fluid pressure chamber or reservoir 26 though this member may take other forms as desired. The bore 31 constitutes a bearing in which is journaled a shaft 32 carrying a cone-shaped bearing support 33.

As seen in Figure l a bearing 35 to be washed seats on the support 33 and because of the inclination of the wall surfaces of the support 33 bearings of various sizes can be mounted thereon. Bearings (not shown) may be mounted between the conical support 33 and the base 3%, the support 33 being freely rotatable. The support 33 is removable from the base 30 so that supports of different shapes and sizes may be utilized. 7

Extending through an aperture in the partition wall 25 and securely mounted therein is a vertical pipe 38. The bottom of the pipe is spaced a short distance ofi the bottom wall 14 to be above sediment which may settle in the reservoir 26 and the top of the pipe is provided with an elbow 39 to receive a horizontal pipe portion. Mounted on the free end of the horizontal pipe 40 is crossarm 41 carrying a plurality of nozzles 42. The arm 41 has 'a hollow construction, or may be tubular to receive fluid therein and to provide a passageway for supplying fluid to the nozzles 42. The arm is mounted on the pipe 40 by means of a connection 43. This connection may be in the form of a universal joint whereby the arm 41 and nozzles 42 are adjustable to a plurality of different positions.

As best seen in Figure 2, the pipe 46 and the nozzles 42 are so positioned that fluid under pressure delivered from the nozzles strikes the bearing in a tangential direction whereby the bearing and its support are rotated by the action of the fluid during the cleaning operation. As seen in Figure l the nozzles are spaced and so curved that fluid delivered from the nozzles converges on the bearing to strike the top and bottom surfaces and the side walls. This process is eflicient in thoroughly cleaning all parts of the bearings as it rotates including the inner'race and the balls of the bearings.

The device is operated by compressed air available from an air compressor pump of the type conventionally used in service stations and garages, but obviously may. 7

be operated by other pumping systems, or by a hand pump. A pipe 55 provided with a suitable connection; not shown, may be attached to the pump system and extends through the end wall ll) to supply air under pressure to the reservoir 26. Mounted on the pipe exteriorly of the' tank is a valve 46 which controls the flow of compressed air to there'servoir.

Also mounted on the pipe 45 exteriorly of thetank is a T-fitting 50 which receives a pipeSlextending through wall 103ml terminating in the-washing chamber 28; A valve 53 is provided for controlling the flow of air therethrough. An elbow 56'is mounted on the end of'pipe' 51 and carries a nozzle 57. The'nozzle 57 is directed downwardly and positioned to deliver pressured air tangentially relative to a hearing or other part to be placed onthe support 33. If desirecLa universal connection 'may be used in place of the elbow 56 so as to give the nozzle freedom 'of adjustment. 'A pressure relief pipe 58 having a valve 59 therein extends exteriorly of the tank and has'end portions 60 and 61 extending through side wall. 11 and'into the washing chamber 28 'and the reservoir 26, respectively. r Y

To operate the present washing device the cover 18 pipe 38 and nozzles 42. Air pressure Within the practical 'operating limits of the compressor system will deliver a suflicient amount of fluid to the nozzles 42 to accomplish cleansing of the bearings in a few seconds. The valve 46 can then be closed and valve 59 opened to reflieve the pressure in the reservoir, the pressure escaping through aperture 20 in the cover 18. Valve 29 may then be opened to permit fluid used in the washing operation to drain back, into the reservoir.

To drythe bearing with pressured air the valve 46 remains closed and the valve53 is opened. Pressured In Figure there is shown a modified bearing support 33' rotatably mounted in the base 30. This support has .a short shaft 32 secured thereto for rotatably mounting the support on the base. The support 33 is in the form.

of the frustum of a cone and has a vertical guide rod 70 extending from its upper surface. i Slidablymounted on the rod 70 is a plate 71 having fingers 72 secured thereto .which extend downwardly to engage a bearing 35 mounted on the support for holding the bearing during the washing and drying operations. The plate 71 has a frictional fit on the rod'70 orrnay have spring pressed friction means forholding the plate in a desired position.

'- This plate isseated on the rod. after the bearingis mountsire to protect by Letters Patent is; 1

[1. A device for cleaning bearings and the like com prising a reservoir tank for cleaning'fluid, a'cor'npressed air supply pipe connected with said tank for pres'surizing' said fluid, awashing chamber having a rotatable support for 1 ed on the support33 and is moved'down until thefingers 72 engagethe upper surface of'the beating.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I- claim as new and departs to be washed, nozzle means atone side ofsaid support connected with said tank .and directed tangentially toward said support and parts supported thereby to wash and rotate said parts by the action of jets of cleaning fluid from said nozzle means, and a nozzle at one side of said support connected with said air supply pipe and directed tangentially toward said support and air ejected from nozzle 57 readily drys the fluid remaining on the bearing. the bearing 35 and support 33 both rotating during the drying operation due to thetangential force exerted on the hearing by thepressured air. The

' valves 29 and 59 are closed before the succeeding washing operation is started.

. It is also within thecontem'plation of this invention-to use a check valve in place of the hand operated valve .29,

a check valve automatically, closingwhenpressured air enters the reservoir 26 and automatically opening when pressure is relieved in the reservoir to permit fluid in 'the washing chamber to drain into the reservoir. Further, a 3-way valve could readily be utilized at thejunc tion of the pipe portions 45 and-51 to ,elimin'atethe. valves 46 and 53 and in a single'manipulation of 'the' valve air could be admitted into either the pressure chamber or the washing chamber. I

Figure 4, shows a modification of the support carried on the base 30. This embodiment comprises a container 65 carried on a short shaft 66 and having annular side walls 67 and a bottom wall 63. The shaft 66 fits in bore 31 of the base 30, and is rotatable therein. This container is designed for holding small parts such as roller bearings, carburetor parts, etc., for the washing operation. When the container is mounted on the support .33 some cfthe nozzles deliver fluid directly into thecontainer to provide churning action and some of the nozzles deliver'fluid against the side .walls of the containerv in a tangential direction, causing the container to rotate. To provide a drain for the container .65 its bottom'wall is provided with a plurality 'of apertures 69. Further, the

V shaft 66 is tubular andhas an interior passageway 70 communicating with'the interior of the'containe'r. A;suitable drain passageway, not shown, is provided in the base 1 f Sdt'ocO'mmunicate with the passageway 76 in the shaft 66and the interior of washing chamber 23.

parts supported thereby to'dry and rotate said parts .by

the action of an air jet from said nozzle.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said support comprises a cone adapted to project into a bearing and a member on said cone having adjustable means for clamping a bearing on'the cone.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said sup port comprises a perforated circular container removably mounted on a .bearing'in said .washing chamben' 4. A device for cleaning-bearings and thej'like comprising a tank having a partition wall forming a pressure and reservoir chamber in thebottom of the tank' and'a washing chamber in the upperportion, a drainin said washing chamber communicating with said reservoir chamber, a valve' in said drain, a compressed air supply pipe connectedwith said reservoir chamber, means for rotatably supporting parts to be washed in said washing chamber, a washing nozzle connected with said reservoir chamber and mounted in said washing chamber in position to'spin said partswon said supporting means, and

a drying nozzle connected with said air pipe and mounted in said washing chamber in position to spinsaid parts on said supporting means;

Strong Apr; 22, 1890 1 J 831,084 Lisa ...Sept.-18, 1906;

1,135,108 Gschwind Apr. 13, 1915 1,398,664 Armstrong -2 Nov. '29, 1921 1,665,423 Skelton Apr. 10, 1928' 1,712,751 'Cunningham May 14, 1929 1,724,639 Burch Aug. 13,1929

. 2,315,572 Wilson Apr. 6, 1943 2,322,729. Holman jJune 22,".1943 2,323,057 Lammering June 29, 1943 2,369,498 Streuber Feb. 13, 1945 2,558,628 Redin June 26, 1951 2,652,843 Schuchman Sept. '22,. 1953 

